Reel for check-row planters



(No Model.)

F. P. RICHARDS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK P. RICHARDS, OF EDINBURG, ILLINOIS.

REEL FOR CHECK-ROW PLANTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,793, dated December 24:, 1889.

Serial No. 319,565. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FRANK P. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edinburg, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cheek-Rowers and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referenoe being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form ar part ot this specification.

This invention relates "to the means for winding and unwinding the check-rope of a `corn-planter, the object being to provide means for the purpose in view which shall be simple and durable and effective in operation.

The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of the frame-work of a check-row corn-planter having the improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, and Figs. 3 and et are views of parts in det-ail.

A is the rectangular frame-work of the planter. B B are the bearing-wheels thereof, and C is the tongue.

On each side of the frame-work are vertically-extending brackets D D, in the upper ends of which is journaled a crossshatt E, which carries the rope-reel F. This shaft carries on 'one end a sprocket-Wheel G, which is rotated from a sprocket-wheel H, carried by one of the wheels B of the planter through an intermediate sprocket-chain I.

On the reel F is wound and unwound the check-rope J, the opposite ends ot' which are adapted to be secured at opposite sides of the field in the usual manner. One end of the check-rope passes back over a guide-pulley K, journaled in a bracket to the center of the rear end of the traine A. From this guidepulley K the rope passes around a second guide-pulley L, journaled in a laterally-extending bracket M, secured to the right-hand rear corner of the framework A. From this guide-pulley L the check-rope is carried forward to the end of the field. The bracket M extends far enough out from the side of the frame to enable the rope to pass clear of the wheel B on that side. The front end of the rope passes in a similar manner over a guidepulley N, journaled in a bracket in the central part of the front end of the frame, and thence passes over a second vguide-pulley O, journaled in the bracket P on the front lefthand corner of the framework A. From this guide-pulley O the rope extends backward past the planter to the opposite end of the field. The bracket P extends out far enough from the side of the frame-work to cause the rope to pass clear of the drive-wheel B on that side of the machine. The rear portion of the check-rope, between the reel F and the pulley K, passes through an elongated eye Q in a hand guide-lever R, which is pivoted at its lower end to a cross-bar S of the framework. This hand guide-lever R is within convenient reach of the drivers seat T, so that the driver can guide the rope as it winds onto the reel in regular order, thus causing the coils of the rope to lie smoothly on the reel.

In order that the reel need not wind the rope so tight as to break, the same, it is not secured rigidly to the shaft E, but is attached thereto by an adjustable clamp. The clamp for attaching the reel to the shaft E is shown in detail in Fig. Pivoted to the side of the reel by a bolt U are two clamp members V V, the outer ends of which can be drawn together by means of a bolt XV and nut X. These clamp members V V embrace an elastic split collar Y, which encreles the shaft E. The clamp members V V are drawn together with just suiiicient force so that normally the reel will be carried around with the shaft; but in case the tension becomes too great on the rope the reel will slip before the rope will break.

I claim as my invention- In a check-row corn-planter, the frame-work A, having' bearing-wheels B B and a sprocket wheel H on one of said drive-wheels, in combination with a reel-shaft E, a sprocket-wheel G on said shaft, a sprocket-chain I, connecting said Wheels .H and G, a rope-reel F on the shaft E, the central guide-pulleys K and N TOO on the front and rear ends of the frame-Work, In testimony whereof I affix my signa-ture in and the diagonally-opposite guide-pulleys L presence of two Witnesses. and O on diagonally-opposite Corners at the rear and frontends of the machine, said pul- FRANK P. RICHARDS. leys L and O being located beyond the sides of the frame-work, so as to carry the oheck- Vit-nesses:

rope beyond the drive-wheels, substantially WILLAM HARROLD,

as set forth. l JOHN E. CAGLE. 

